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    Counselling Practice Diploma Level 4

    Course Overview

    The Level 4 AIM award Diploma in Counselling Practice is for those wishing to achieve professional status in counselling. This qualification enables learners to embark on counselling practice working within an ethical framework such as BACP or NCS. The placement requirement in this qualification is essential to the personal and professional development of the practitioner.

    This qualification comprises of three mandatory units (Counselling Theory, Counselling Theory: a chosen approach and Study of Supervised Practice) and four optional units that provide an opportunity to deepen an understanding of theoretical perspectives within an integrative framework.

    Our chosen approach is Integrative and our core theoretical model is Petruska Clarkson's Systems Integrative Psychotherapy. The four optional units we currently deliver are:

    • Working with Addictive Behaviour
    • Working with Children and Young People
    • Working with Trauma
    • Transactional Analysis

    These units will be delivered as lectures, tutorials and experiential activities. You will also participate in personal development groups within the course programme. There may be a weekend residential.

    You will learn about:

    • Professional ethics and boundaries
    • The complexities of the therapeutic relationship 
    • Self-critical and self-evaluative skills
    • Developing supervision skills
    • Understanding the effectiveness of supervision
    • Developing an understanding of different theoretical approaches

    Placement requirements:

    • Students will be in placement with an agency where they will have to complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice
    • Students will need to achieve a competency to practice assignment before they can start their placement
    • Students will have to join a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or the National Counselling Society as student members and will be required to adhere to a recognised code of ethics. See the BACP or NCS website for current student membership fees.

    Personal therapy:

    • Students need to take part in a minimum of 25 hours personal therapy over the duration of the course. This needs to be with an experienced practitioner.
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    Course Overview

    Course Overview

    The Level 4 AIM award Diploma in Counselling Practice is for those wishing to achieve professional status in counselling. This qualification enables learners to embark on counselling practice working within an ethical framework such as BACP or NCS. The placement requirement in this qualification is essential to the personal and professional development of the practitioner.

    This qualification comprises of three mandatory units (Counselling Theory, Counselling Theory: a chosen approach and Study of Supervised Practice) and four optional units that provide an opportunity to deepen an understanding of theoretical perspectives within an integrative framework.

    Our chosen approach is Integrative and our core theoretical model is Petruska Clarkson's Systems Integrative Psychotherapy. The four optional units we currently deliver are:

    • Working with Addictive Behaviour
    • Working with Children and Young People
    • Working with Trauma
    • Transactional Analysis

    These units will be delivered as lectures, tutorials and experiential activities. You will also participate in personal development groups within the course programme. There may be a weekend residential.

    You will learn about:

    • Professional ethics and boundaries
    • The complexities of the therapeutic relationship 
    • Self-critical and self-evaluative skills
    • Developing supervision skills
    • Understanding the effectiveness of supervision
    • Developing an understanding of different theoretical approaches

    Placement requirements:

    • Students will be in placement with an agency where they will have to complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice
    • Students will need to achieve a competency to practice assignment before they can start their placement
    • Students will have to join a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or the National Counselling Society as student members and will be required to adhere to a recognised code of ethics. See the BACP or NCS website for current student membership fees.

    Personal therapy:

    • Students need to take part in a minimum of 25 hours personal therapy over the duration of the course. This needs to be with an experienced practitioner.

    Assessment

    Assessment Methods

    This qualification is assessed through the following methods: 

    • Externally assessed exam 
    • Externally assessed study of supervised practice 
    • Internally assessed essay 
    • Internally assessed case studies
    • Your participation in personal and professional development

    Entry Requirements and Progression

    Progression

    On successful completion of the Level 4 Diploma you will be eligible to apply for the Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.

    Entry Requirements

    • You will need to have completed at least a Level 3 classroom-based skills-led programme in Counselling Skills and theory
    • Please note that due to the skills-based practical nature of the Level 4 programme a Level 3 distance learning qualification would not be considered as a suitable substitute for completing a Level 3 skills-led classroom-based programme in order to access this programme
    • You will be invited to participate in a group interview, followed by a one-to-one interview with one of the course tutors
    • You will be asked to submit evidence of previous training, as well as a short piece of reflective writing 
    • You will need to demonstrate experience of using your counselling skills with people in a one-to-one capacity
    • You will need to demonstrate an ability to reflect on personal development as well as acknowledge areas for development
    • Please be aware that the placement element of the course will require you to undergo a full DBS disclosure. 

    Fees

    The course fee is £2807.00* per year of study.

    For more information regarding course fees, please read our 'Fees and Funding' page.

    *Fees are subject to review annually. The fees for existing students may be increased annually in line with the Retail Price Index.

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    Graduation ceremony for 2019/20 graduands

    21st October 2021